For 65 years, Relais & Châteaux has elevated art de vivre to a 10th art!

Our Chefs and Maîtres de Maison are delighted to welcome you to a world shaped by their personalities and passion. We are committed to offering hospitality in unique places. We aim, along with men and women skilled in the subtle art of refined hospitality, to place you, our guests, centre stage.

Our Restaurants lie at the heart of our art of living: our Chefs and their teams, but also local producers, farmers, cheese makers, fishermen, winegrowers and indeed everyone who contributes to making the shared experience of a meal a veritable feast for the senses.

Our family is particularly eager to introduce you to whole new worlds by immersing you in regional cultures worldwide.

PHILIPPE GOMBERT

President

Imagine Relais & Châteaux as a very fine French-style library of top-quality books each entitled In Honour of the Joys of Living

- Olivier Roellinger, Owner, Les Maisons de Bricourt (France)

Who we are

585 exceptions! Established 65 years ago when top hoteliers teamed up with talented chefs, Relais & Châteaux now sets the standard for excellence in hospitality and culinary arts. Relais & Châteaux is not a chain but an Association of 585 outstanding properties, with independent owners, Maîtres de Maison and chefs.

These rare individuals open up whole new worlds in upscale hospitality. How do they manage this feat? By underscoring the need for unique, personal experiences which offer our guests, over 5 continents, the opportunity to enjoy our fine arts of living, and build their own treasure trove of living memories. This is our unique selling point and what makes us special: “All around the world, unique in the world”. In 2014 Relais & Châteaux initiates with its Vision and its 20 Commitments a dedicated and worldwide movement for “A better world through cuisine and hospitality”. With this determination, the Association wishes to elevate the Fine Arts of Living to the rank of the 10th Art.

65 years of history

Our history is delightful, telling of men and women who take over a charming hotel, an outstanding restaurant, and then join forces to share their enthusiasm with others. This history dates back to 1954.

Sixty-five years ago, Marcel and Nelly Tilloy, a couple of music-hall artists who owned La Cardinale, a hotel and restaurant on the right bank of the Rhône, came up with the idea of advertising eight properties under the slogan ‘La Route du Bonheur’. Eight totally different houses, all authentic and inhabited, each with its own personality, located away from towns on the road from Paris to Nice, they were all united by shared values: topquality amenities, outstanding fine dining and their own particular ideas about the Art of Living.

This union of kindred spirits merged together to create the most prestigious hotel Association in the world: Relais & Châteaux. Today, nearly 580 Members are to be found along 129 Routes du Bonheur in 66 countries, all sharing the same enthusiasm.

“Hoteliers, restaurateurs must speak from the heart”, was Marcel Tilloy’s recommendation. This was 65 years ago and that belief is still alive today.

Our values and experiences

Relais & Châteaux is defined by the values it shares with its Members throughout the world.

A local anchorOur properties are the living expression of a place, its history, environment and culture.

The human aspectThe Relais & Châteaux spirit lies not only in the respect shown toward one's hosts and colleagues, but also toward the men and women who evolve around our properties and embody the places and cultures they are part of.

SharingEvery Maître de Maison conveys his or her passion to our customers.

CommitmentRelais & Châteaux Members help to enrich the history of cuisine and hospitality.

Staff testimonials

Facts and figures

585

properties

39

new members for 2017

2 400

million Euros of sales revenues in 2017

40 000

staff members

+4,7%

of sales revenue in 2017

226

starred chefs in the Michelin guide

66

countries

374

Michelin stars

65

partners

Our job offers

Relais & Châteaux recruits all year for positions in hotels and restaurants, worldwide.